Wrought iron has a long and rich history as a material used in the construction of countless structures across a vast expanse of time and civilizations. Craftsmen throughout the centuries have chosen wrought iron for its strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Iron continues to be used in many structures today, including fencing!
How much do you know about wrought iron? Did you know that a bridge right here in Maryland claims to be the only remaining wrought iron bridge in the world? What about a wrought iron pillar in India that’s more than 1,000 years old? Or that one of the most iconic structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower, is made of wrought iron? Learn about some famous wrought iron structures in our blog!
3 Famous Wrought Iron Structures
The Bollman Truss Semi-Suspension Bridge
The Bollman Truss Semi-Suspension Bridge was built way back in pre-Civil War America in 1852. The bridge is famous for having been the first successful all-metal bridge design to be used by railroads, which back then were the lifeblood of the country’s economy.
The bridge was moved to its present location over the Little Patuxent River in 1887. It was used by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to connect a spur to the Savage Mill until 1947, when the mill closed. The bridge was restored in 1983 and again in 2000, and is now a part of the Savage Mill Trail. It was also declared a National Historic Landmark in 2000. Take a trip to Howard County to check out this beautiful example of wrought iron architecture.
The Iron Pillar of Delhi
The iron pillar of Delhi is a 1,600 year-old wrought iron pillar built in honor of the Gupta King Candragupta II. It’s located in the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features numberous monuments and mosques, and is a beautiful example of ancient Indian and Afghan architecture. The complex is actually India’s most visited monument, with 1.5 million more visitors than the Taj Mahal in 2006.
“The Delhi iron pillar is a testimony to the high level of skill achieved by the ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron,” according to Corrosion Science.
The Eiffel Tower
The cultural symbol of France, the Eiffel Tower may be the best known wrought iron structure in the world. Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, the tower was actually poorly received when it was first built, but soon became beloved the world over. When it was built it assumed the title of tallest structure in the world (1,063 ft), and held this title until the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York. More than 250 million people have visited this iconic iron structure.
Hercules Custom Iron has more than 70 years of experience crafting ornamental iron and quality aluminum in its in-house manufacturing facility. Contact Us today to learn more about how we can help you with your next custom iron, specialty metal or aluminum project! Also, be sure to follow Hercules Custom Iron on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!